ENERGY ACCESSIBILITY: THE NEED TO EXPAND THE MDG AGENDA IN CAMEROON

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Despite Cameroon?s high energy potential, Cameroonians happens to be suffering from severe energy inaccessibility. This work was aimed to investigate the causes of this energy inaccessibility and then establish a relationship between the energy inaccessibility and the Millennium Development Goal of poverty reduction focus on Cameroon. Mixed method research approach of data collection was used in the study. We traced the historical relationship between poverty and economic development and then end up linking those two variables with energy inaccessibility. So far, the international community agrees that the main determinant of poverty reduction is sustained economic development. But this work argues that sustainable economic development is not all that matters, we need to make energy accessible in order to achieve real growth thence poverty reduction. In the course of the investigation, it was found out that Cameroon started suffering from energy inaccessibility since the institution of the Bretton Woods Electricity reform in the late 1980s. This was mainly caused by 1) ill-conceived electricity reforms carried out by the IMF/World Bank in the mid 1980s 2) very weak institutions governing the energy sector in Cameroon 3) inappropriate policy options. It is no coincidence that the country is considered off track in achieving the MDGs within the time frame (1990 to 2015). Energy inaccessibility has three restraining effects on Cameroon?s struggle to alleviate poverty, 1) It causes increase in the cost of production, which intends discourages investment 2) Household consumers of energy find it unbearable to meet up with the cost of modern energy services and other basic commodities which mode of production require energy. 3) It impedes the acquisition of other basic human needs. Therefore, it is logical to conclude that energy inaccessibility is the root cause of poverty in Cameroon. It is imperative for Cameroon policy makers to make energy accessibility a priority through new energy reforms, otherwise achieving MDG goal on poverty reduction will be a mission impossible.